In a method for applying a multilayer wear-resistant coating on metallic, optionally already coated, surfaces, the coating is composed of at least two anti-wear layers (5) and an intermediate layer (10) each arranged between two anti-wear layers (5). The intermediate layer (10) is comprised of a material composition containing the material of the anti-wear layer (5) and a further material, wherein the application of the intermediate layer (10) is effected with a content of the material of the anti-wear layer (5) decreasing over a first transition region (a) and a content of the material of the anti-wear layer (5) increasing over a second transition region (b), the content of the material of the anti-wear layer (5) in the intermediate layer (10) being selected to be at least 5% by weight in every point.